MLB Play of the Day for Friday, June 18: New York Yankees vs. Oakland Athletics

We have a big weekend series in the Bronx with the Oakland Athletics travelling to play the New York Yankees. Two playoff regulars are jockeying for position, and each will look to take the first of the three game set. 

Who has the edge?

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New York Yankees (-140, 9.5) vs. Oakland Athletics - 7:05 PM EST

Jameson Taillon has had a rocky first season with the Yankees, but his underlying metrics aren’t as bad as his 5.74 ERA suggests. For starters, he is sporting a 3.22 ERA over 36 innings at home, but his double digit ERA on the road has ballooned his number. 

Taillon is much more comfortable at home, and the Yankees will look to keep their bats hot -- a mid-week sweep of the Blue Jays -- against Oakland’s James Kaprielian.

Kaprielian is in his first full season as a starter and is posting a 2.51 ERA over six starts, but his FIP is more than a run higher. However, Oakland enters this meeting on a six game winning streak and currently is in the lead for the American League West. 

Kaprielian has been able to strand more than 86% of runners on base so far, while also generating a ground ball on just a third of the balls he allows in play. Both of those are concerning metrics in the hitter friendly Yankees Stadium. 

New York is going to look to touch up the rising prospect, and despite falling short of expectation this season by being six games off the division lead, the Yankees offense is starting to round into form, posting the ninth best wRC+ in the month of June. 

The Yankees lineup has a big reputation, and it may be starting to round into form after a flat start to the season, but the Oakland offense should thrive in the hitter friendly Yankee Stadium, with a top nine slugging percentage.

What is the right side in this matchup? What about the total? Get our best bet from the BetQL Model here!